1: What impact have restrictions had on your sector?
2: Were the restrictions necessary, or over the top?
3: Can the effects of restrictions be redressed?
Mr Pat O'Rourke, president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association
About 160,000 calves have built up on farms, creating an enormous logistical problem for farmers. Milk production will be down next year - because artificial insemination services have been temporarily stopped, there will be fewer cows calving next January. Farmers also have the increased cost of transporting animals directly from farm to slaughterhouses while 1,000 jobs in marts have been lost.
Farmers have had complete and total acceptance of the restrictions, as they understand their importance, even though they are a huge inconvenience. They have no tolerance for anyone who has breached the regulations, because farmers know the consequences for the economy and the agriculture sector.
We are not in a position to recoup lost production. We will have to farm our way out of it. Aggressive marketing is needed to recover some of our losses. Co-ops may experience processing difficulties next year.
Mr Ciaran Fitzgerald, director of IBEC Food and Drink Federation
In the food sector, the impact is not as serious as it may have been. Japan and the US banned the import of pork, a ban which will remain for another two to three months, resulting in a loss of about £15 million. The main adjustment was the introduction of certification for export products. But the Department of Agriculture was very professional and made sure several products were pre-certified.
Absolutely necessary. Feedback from a number of countries who take our food and drink says they are very pleased with our response. And this has stood to us. Countries will stick by international trade guidelines.
Lifting the restrictions should quite significantly ease the disruption of our export trade. Over the next two to three months, we will, hopefully, be able to retain markets abroad and will not lose any of our export markets.
Mr Danny Lynch, press officer of the Gaelic Athletic Association
GAA activity was curtailed because of initial recommendations of the expert group. Further disruptions were caused by the confirmed cases in counties Louth, Armagh, Tyrone and Antrim, and parts of south Down inside an exclusion zone, effectively ruling out some clubs from competitions. Restrictions have also reduced the GAA's income but it is too early to quantify this.
The GAA took the restrictions very seriously, as many players and organisers are in the farming sector. While the restrictions have affected fixtures and income, the GAA has co-operated with the Department.
The Ulster Football Championship could be affected by the current crisis in the North. More outbreaks in the South could seriously disrupt hurling and football here. The GAA will probably fulfil its entire fixture list, albeit not entirely satisfactorily.
Mr John Dully, chief executive, Bord Failte; chairman, Tourism Action Group
All businesses are feeling the effect of the crisis. If the current situation continues until August, it is estimated the potential loss of overseas tourism revenue could be at least £500 million. In addition, losses in domestic tourism could total £140 million. Job losses could reach 30,000.
The tourism industry has been fully supportive of the precautionary measures introduced by the Government. It recognises the potential damage which the spread of foot-and-mouth would cause the economy.
The Tourism Action Group is spearheading a special marketing campaign in overseas markets. A similar reassurance campaign is being undertaken in the domestic market. These will help correct a falloff in inquiries and bookings and should go some way towards helping tourism to sustain its capacity for future growth through what is undoubtedly going to be a difficult year.